Photo : Collected
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director Nazmul Abedin Fahim believed that the Global Super League (GSL) T20 tournament is good opportunity for the cricketers from Bangladesh to make their case stronger for the franchise league around the world.
Even though some Bangladesh players have of late started playing domestic T20 leagues around the world at regular basis, the number was not as satisfactory as it should be.
Rangpur Riders are going to represent Bangladesh in the maiden edition of the Global Super League T20 competition, organised by the West Indies Cricket Board from November 27 to December 7.
"This is a very different kind of event. A team from Bangladesh is going to play Global T20, it has never happened before. It will take our cricket to a new height," Fahim said here today.
"Congratulations to Rangpur Riders. They are going to play as the best team out there right now. We hope they will do well there. Through the tournament our local players will get a good exposure that will eventually help us to show our credential in T20 cricket."
Five teams, including Caribbean Premier League (CPL) team Guyana Amazon Warriors, will compete for a US$1million prize fund across 11 matches. The other teams are Hampshire Hawks, Lahore Qalandars, Rangpur Riders and Victoria.
The Rangpur Riders squad will feature experienced Bangladesh internationals Nurul Hasan Sohan, Soumya Sarkar, Afif Hossain and Mahedi Hasan alongside some promising foreign cricketers.
"Rangpur Riders are not only representing them, they are representing Bangladesh and the BCB in the tournament. I hope they will try to play their best game."
Among the foreign cricketers, Rangpur have included Steven Taylor, Khushdil Shah, Matthew Ford, Harmeet Singh, Wayne Madsen and Jack Chappell but the BCB will keep an eye on the performance of local cricketers, said Fahim.
"There are many players of the national team and there are many emerging players in Rangpur squad. The BCB will keep an eye on those players," he informed.
"It's one thing to perform at home but performing outside of the country is another thing. If someone performs well there, the selectors will surely be noticed."
Rangpur Riders squad for the 2024 GSL: Nurul Hasan Sohan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Saif Hassan, Rishad Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Kamrul Islam, Mathew Forde (West Indies), Harmeet Singh (USA), Wayne Madsen (England) and Zak Chappell (England).
Messenger/JRTarek
